Parker History-please participate

[Hammer Gun]

Gentlemen this is a true story, In 1975 a true Virginia gentleman passed from this world, he was, and is remembered for being a, "Engineer, Industrialist, Philanthropist" He gave over 300 million dollars to education in V.A. Upon his death, as per his wishes, his home place " Chatam was given to the National Park Service. His daughter for some reason was left out of his will, receiving 100,000 dollars and the furnishings in the house at Chatam. Granted that is not a small sum but one must put this into perspective since he died with an estate even after his generosity of 100 million. As the daughter was "cleaning out the house" she found in her fathers upstairs bedroom closet an A&F gun case marked "John Pratt" Also a leg of mutton case. Upon looking into the case she found a Parker shotgun, in the other case a set of barrels and a forend to match, not knowing any thing about such things she consulted with the family lawyer. I will leave some names out in this narrative for obvious reasons. The lawyer was summoned to the house to inspect the findings of the daughter. He consulted with a well known gun dealer and made arrangements for he and his wife to visit the estate to look at the find. The gun dealer told the lawyer he knew wealthy persons that would pay 25,000 for the gun. The lawyer went to the daughter and offered 12,000 for the "find" and it was accepted, imagine that! By the way I have copies of all this correspondence including a copy of the lawyers check! The gun languished in the hands of the lawyer untill a Chicago Buick dealer purchased it. In the late 1999 I got a call and was asked if I would be interested in looking at and possibly purchasing the gun. I said yes. The gun and extra barrels were driven 1200 miles to my location, "the owner would not ship it and I did not blame him" When the time came for inspection of the piece I was as nervous as a xxxxxx in church. I had never held something that was as beautiful and made by man in my hands! Crunch time came and it resulted a phone call to my wife, explaining why I was about to spend our retirement money for " a damned old shotgun" All went well and I came away custodian of this fine piece. Now for the details, Gun- Parker A-1 Special 30" splinter forend, Extra barrels 26" Beavertail forend never fired! both 12ga. Gun was given to Mr John Pratt on his retirement from General Motors Dec 19, 1935. I was custodian of this fine piece of American craftsmanship for several years. I parted with it in 2006. I know the new owner, and I do not know who he is, is very proud. So the moral of this story, yes Virginia, there are closets with Parkers in them out there. For Photo's go to The Parker Story Volume two page 647,648,649. I am proud to have been it's keeper for a while. Gary Carmichael